what are some main differences between a separator and a solenoid?

 

With a solenoid you can connect the coil so it interconnects the batteries into the circuit every time the ignition is on charging the axillary battery and you can also configure it so you can jump start yourself.

But using a separator the onboard electronics takes control of all of its functions by not allowing the axillary battery to connect until the main battery reaches 13.2 volts giving your mains priority, same once the engine is off it will automatically disconnect after a few seconds.

A separator still has a heavy duty solenoid but it is automatic and you don't have to worry about draining your axillary battery if you didn't disconnected it when you stopped your truck.

Jim

 

ooook so a solenoid is kind of like a manual version of a separator.
but the same features of a separator can be acheived with a solenoid by adding a switch?

 

Yes it is and yes it can but if you forget and leave the switch on you can drain your main battery inadvertently and have nothing to start your truck with.

If you do go with the solenoid route, don't make a common mistake and try and use a Ford type starter solenoid, they are only intermittent duty and will burn up after a few minuets.

You need a good quality constant duty solenoid, your grid heater solenoids will work but they are only rated at 100-amps and they are continuous duty.

You can parallel 2) 100-amp solenoids together but it is best to get a good 200-amp solenoid.

Back in the 70"s they used to sell dual battery solenoids and I saw a lot of problems with them, same with the diode type isolators, the old 35-amp alternators couldn't produce enough current to maintain the second battery because of the voltage drop.

Jim

 

is there a difference between a constant and continous duty solenoid?

also would the solenoid or separator require both batteries to be the same or similar? because i have 2 different batts.

 

Yes you want both bats to be the same on the same alternator.

 

why would both batts have to be the same if there is a solenoid or separator keeping them apart?
i have two deep cycles, but they arent the same battery.

Also, all the shops are telling me that i only need a 70 or 80 amp solenoid for my purposes with a 120 amp alternator.
are they just confused or whats goin on there?

 

I know there is tons of information and scientific discussion scattered all through the "net" that advises to the contrary; BUT, in many years of actual practice, I have never had a negative issue while running multiple batteries of mixed types, ages, and amperages.

If there is any detrimental effect, I have never been able to detect it.

I have ran mixed sizes and types of batteries wired parallel and un-isolated for many thousands of miles and have not yet seen any real evidence of any real problem from doing so in real world practice.




I am not advising that anyone else do so, just that I have never had any problems from so doing.

 

We had a deep cycle boil over and be destroyed within a year of being on the same charging cycle as a starting. Both batteries were new, and of good quality. 1 try, and 1 failure.

 

try cole hersee part number 24059-bp rated for 750 amps at 30.00

 

Now the SLI battery would not have served well when subjected to a deep-cycle-chemistry-approved charging regiment. It is a question of knowing what you're doing before making mods....sort of like the admonition to put in an exhaust pyrometer before getting at the pump...
cheers,
Douglas

 

why would the shops be suggesting that i only need a 70 amp continuous duty solenoid for chargin two batteries? i thought id need atleast a 120 amp which is what my Alt. is.

 

We knew what we were doing, and it was an experiment. The 2nd battery was for the winch. We were fairly certain it wouldn't work and it didn't.. Just showing the results.

Yes you need one rated for at least the alternator rating, or larger if you have accessories that draw more. Like the 200A grid heater.

 

the number i posted, will take care of all duties, including cranking load.

 

I see that its rated at 750 on some sales sites, but on the Cole Hersee site it says 85A ??